After winning the battle and tasting victory, Punjab’s farmers may soon be marching back home with both the Houses of Parliament passing the Bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws on Monday after one year long struggle.

All the 32 farmer unions from Punjab, who have been spearheading the “historic” and one-of-its-kind agitation, claimed “victory” with the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passing the Bill on the very first day of the Winter Session.

Punjab’s farmers’ leaders, after the meeting of 32 farm outfits at Singhu border, maintained that the final decision on their future course of action will be taken by the 42-member panel of Samyukta Kisan Morcha - a pan-India umbrella body heading the farmers’ agitation - in its “emergency” meeting on December 1, instead of December 4.

The Pioneer has learnt that the state’s farm unions have agreed to lift the dharna and return to home, while leaving the final decision on the SKM to be taken on December 1. “We have won. Now, we have no excuse...SKM’s emergency meeting has been called on December 1 and the decision taken in today’s meeting would be put before them,” said BKU Kadian’s president Harmeet Singh Kadian, after the meeting.

The farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at Delhi borders for a year now against the three farm laws - namely the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. However, the Parliament on Monday passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, to revoke the three legislations.

“In the meeting, the discussion was held on the future of MSP. Besides, it was decided to urge the Home Minister to order states to take back all the cases registered against the farmers,” said BKU Kadian’s national spokesperson Ravneet Singh Brar, describing the development as “a big day for farmers”.

It has been learnt that the farmer leaders, during the meeting, noted that the Centre has finally shown a positive attitude by repealing the farm laws, besides agreeing on other demands like leaving out the farmers from the stubble and electricity act.

“Our victory is complete. The demands, for which we had come, have been decided. The Government has talked about forming a committee on MSP. For that, the Central Government has been given a day’s time. It is to be seen whether the Centre would include the farmers in the panel or not; and in how much time, they would take the decision...We want the Centre to clarify all these issues,” said a farmer leader, while adding that the farmers could continue to protest on remaining demands in their respective States.

Among other demands, the farmers are demanding repealing of the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020; cancelling FIRs against the protesters; suspension of Union Minister Ajay Mishra from the Cabinet, compensation to the martyrs of agitation.

“Our most important demand is about MSP for which government is yet to give us correct guidelines as to how that committee will work. For that, we have given a day’s time to the Central Government. And that was why, the SKM’s meeting has been convened a day after (on December 1) in which we would decide the way ahead,” said BKU Dakaunda’s general secretary Jagmohan Singh.

Punjab farm unions were also of the view that cancellation of cases against the protesting farmers, in different states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, was not a very difficult process as the Union Home Ministry needs to issue directions to all states.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangrash Committee’s (KMSC) Sarwan Singh Pandher wanted “due compensation” for over 700 farmers died during the year-long agitation, besides providing a suitable space for setting up their memorial at Delhi border.

During the meeting, the unions noted that keeping any kind of political interference away from the agitation was their biggest strength to win the year-long struggle. The unions submitted that they have no plans to foray into politics, even though the demand is being raised by several quarters.

At the same time, Punjab’s outfits also expressed their gratitude towards every person or organisation who contributed in the struggle, directly or indirectly.

Describing the repealing of three “black” laws as “country’s biggest victory”, BKU Kadian’s Brar said: “When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion...Repealing of these black laws is country’s biggest victory against the tyranny. Country today had realised the power of unity and now we see a new and a better India. We will move ahead together with our people to ensure safer, stronger, and a better future for generations to come.”